Two prison officers were attacked by a gang of masked men armed with baseball bats after finishing work at a prison in Salford, Manchester.
One officer was hit on the arm and another managed to jump out of the way as the gang crashed a car through a barrier and attempted to mow them down, the Manchester Evening News reports.
The men also smashed windows of the visitor centre at HMP Forest Bank in Agecroft before fleeing.
The incident happened two weeks ago but details have only just now emerged.
The MEN understands that one line of inquiry is that the attack may have been 'revenge' for an inmate being moved out of the prison after allegedly assaulting a female prison officer who was knocked out.
A spokesperson for HMP Forest Bank said: “An incident occurred outside HMP Forest Bank on Tuesday 20th July where two prison officers were attacked by masked men.
“A member of staff did sustain an injury from the attack and the incident has been referred to Greater Manchester Police.”
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: “Police were called shortly after 8pm on Tuesday 20 July 2021 to reports of a disturbance at HMP Forest Bank.
“Enquiries have established that three people arrived at the prison in a dark coloured car before alighting the vehicle and attacking a staff member with a baseball bat.
“The offenders then attempted to run over a second member of staff, using the car, before driving through the barrier and causing extensive damage to the visitors’ entrance.
“The member of staff who was attacked with the baseball bat was taken to hospital with an arm injury. He has since been discharged.
“No arrests have been made and enquiries remain ongoing.”
One prison source said: “The two officers had finished their shift and walked out of the visitors centre where they are based.
"One got hit with a baseball bat and the other managed to jump out of the way as they drove a car at him.
£There is only a little barrier there at the car park and the men just drove right through it.
“It looks like the gang attacked the first two officers that appeared at random.”
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